EXAM PREPARATION FOR SCHEDULING PROFESSIONAL (PMI-SP)

Available Dates & Locations

This course is offered exclusively as In-House or Virtual, with no public sessions currently available – please contact us for inquiries.

COURSE OVERVIEW

This specialized course prepares professionals for the PMI Scheduling Professional (PMI-SP) certification examination, fully aligned with the PMI-SP Exam Content Outline and its five core scheduling domains: Schedule Strategy, Schedule Planning and Development, Schedule Monitoring and Controlling, Schedule Closeout, and Stakeholder Communications Management. Participants will develop advanced expertise in project scheduling theory, tools, and techniques as outlined in the Practice Standard for Scheduling and the PMBOK® Guide. Through structured instruction, domain-based practice questions, scheduling calculation drills, earned value exercises, mind map reviews, and full mock exam simulations, this course equips candidates with the specialized knowledge and confidence needed to pass the PMI-SP examination on their first attempt and drive superior scheduling outcomes across complex project environments.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

By attending this course, participants will be able to:

Explain the foundational principles of project scheduling and develop a comprehensive schedule management strategy aligned with organizational policies and PMI standards.
Apply schedule planning techniques including work breakdown structure development, activity definition, activity sequencing, and resource breakdown structure creation.
Develop a fully integrated project schedule using critical path method (CPM), critical chain project management (CCPM), PERT, and resource leveling techniques.
Apply schedule optimization techniques including schedule compression, fast-tracking, crashing, resource smoothing, and what-if scenario analysis.
Monitor and control project schedule performance using earned value management, schedule variance analysis, and schedule performance index calculations.
Manage schedule changes through integrated change control, maintaining schedule baseline integrity and updating forecasts based on current performance data.
Close out project schedules by documenting lessons learned, evaluating final performance against baseline, and archiving schedule data for organizational knowledge.
Apply PMI-SP exam tips, critical scheduling keywords, and domain-based strategies to answer scenario-based questions accurately and pass the examination on the first attempt.

EXAM PREPARATION FOR SCHEDULING PROFESSIONAL (PMI-SP) — course overview

TARGET COMPETENCIES

Schedule Strategy and Planning
Work Breakdown and Activity Definition
Schedule Development and Optimization
Critical Path and Critical Chain Methods
Schedule Monitoring and Performance Analysis
Earned Value in Schedule Management
Schedule Closeout and Lessons Learned
Exam Strategy and Readiness

This course is designed for experienced project management professionals who specialize in or are responsible for developing, maintaining, and analyzing project schedules. It is particularly suited for project schedulers, planning and control specialists, project planners, and project controls engineers who seek to validate their scheduling expertise through the globally recognized PMI-SP credential. Project managers, program managers, and PMO professionals who oversee scheduling functions or manage scheduling teams will also benefit significantly. Professionals from engineering, construction, defense, aerospace, oil and gas, and IT sectors who regularly manage complex, multi-resource project schedules are especially encouraged to attend. A minimum of 12 months of professional project scheduling experience and 30 contact hours of scheduling education are required for exam eligibility, and this course fulfills the contact hour requirement while preparing each participant for full examination readiness.

This course is delivered through instructor-led sessions, domain-based practice questions, scheduling calculation drills, earned value exercises, mind map reviews, keyword and definition sessions, mock exam simulations, and structured debrief discussions, ensuring participants are fully prepared for both the PMI-SP examination and advanced project scheduling practice.

Module 1: Scheduling Foundations and Exam Framework

PMI-SP exam requirements, eligibility criteria, registration process, study plan, and course agenda
The role of the project scheduler: responsibilities, competencies, and interaction with the project management team
PMI-SP ECO overview: five domains, weightings (Strategy 14%, Planning 31%, Monitoring 35%, Closeout 6%, Stakeholders 14%), and exam structure
Key references: Practice Standard for Scheduling 3rd Edition, PMBOK® Guide, and supplementary scheduling resources
Schedule configuration management: policies, procedures, access control, change control, and baseline management

Module 2: Domain I – Schedule Strategy

Establishing the schedule management plan: purpose, components, policies, and governance structure
Defining scheduling objectives, roles and responsibilities, and scheduling methodology for the project
Identifying scheduling tools, software platforms, and organizational process assets relevant to the project
Applying best practices, regulatory requirements, and organizational standards to schedule strategy development
Practice questions covering schedule strategy with full answer explanations and keyword review

Module 3: Domain II – Schedule Planning and Development

Defining and decomposing activities: WBS development, activity list creation, milestone identification, and decomposition techniques
Sequencing activities: precedence diagramming method, logical relationships (FS, SS, FF, SF), leads, lags, and dependency types
Resource breakdown structure development, resource assignment, and multi-resource scheduling considerations
Duration estimating techniques: analogous, parametric, three-point (PERT), and bottom-up estimating
Developing the schedule baseline: CPM calculations, critical path identification, float analysis, and schedule compression

Module 4: Advanced Scheduling Techniques

Critical chain project management (CCPM): buffer management, resource constraints, and project buffer sizing
Resource leveling and resource smoothing: resolving over-allocation and optimizing resource utilization
Schedule risk analysis: Monte Carlo simulation, sensitivity analysis, and probabilistic duration forecasting
What-if scenario analysis, schedule optimization, and applying fast-track and crashing techniques
Agile and hybrid scheduling: rolling wave planning, iteration scheduling, and integrating agile into traditional schedules

Module 5: Domain III – Schedule Monitoring and Controlling

Tracking schedule performance: data collection, status updates, and progress measurement techniques
Earned value management for schedules: SV, SPI, EAC(t), and TSPI calculations and interpretation
Schedule variance analysis: identifying root causes, trend analysis, and forecasting schedule completion
Managing schedule changes: integrated change control, re-baselining decisions, and impact assessments
Schedule reporting: formats, frequency, stakeholder requirements, and escalation procedures

Module 6: Domains IV & V – Schedule Closeout, Stakeholder Communications, and Exam Readiness

Schedule closeout: finalizing schedule activities, evaluating performance against baseline, and archiving records
Documenting and distributing lessons learned related to scheduling practices and performance outcomes
Stakeholder communications management: identifying schedule information needs and developing the communications plan
Very important PMI-SP keywords, definitions, and high-frequency exam questions with full explanations
Full mock exam simulation with debrief, answer rationale, personalized study guidance, and exam day strategy